Dining car construction



Nv. 3, 1942. P. P.vcRET ETAL DINING CONSTRUCTION s shams-sheet 1 PAUL P. CRET JoHNW.PATTON' A Filed March 5, 1940 y Nv.3,1942. P1P, can mL 2,300,615

` DINING CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed March 5, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 -2 L i 5w 'r iv i?? y i 3mm PAULRCRET JoHNM/.PATTON Patented Nov. 3, 1942 UNITED ST DINING CAR ooNsrauctrrcN Paul I. Cret and John W. Patton, Philadelphia, v Pa., assignorsto Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 5, 1940, `Serial No. 322,292

4 Claims.

The general object of the invention is todevise an improved arrangement of chairs and tables whereby `greater table space per person may be provided, and the usual number of persons accommodated more comfortably within a given area, than with Aprevious arrangements.

Although the invention is applicable to restaurants and the like, in general, as well vas to vehicles such as air craft, it has particular utility when applied to the dining cars of railroad trains, and will be described in this connection, vas Van illustrative embodiment.

Other and more specific objects of the inven tion are to provide a dining car arrangement in which a series of similar tables, each capable of accommodating at least four persons, are located along each side wall, with an aisle between them `wider than in the usual standard practice, and in Ywhich side `wall and aisle seats for each table are provided and so spaced that persons may `pass to and from the former without disturbing persons occupying the latter. To this end, Vthe largest dimension of the tables is in a direction longitudinal of the car, and the aisle end .of the tables is made of smaller longitudinal .dimension, as by making it curved or arcuate, as 'hereinafter described.

In order 'that the invention may be readily understood, reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in which:

Fig. 1 is a conventional plan view of a standfard ,dining car of the prior art, parts being .broken away;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of ra dining car of the same size, embodying the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation showing some of the tables and seats illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the standard prior art car shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of a portion of the car embodying the present invention, as shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Fig. 5, but showing a slightly modiied form of table.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Figure 5 but showing another slightly mcdiiied form of table.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and more particularly rst t0 Figs. 1 and 2, I designates the side walls of a car, 2 the windows, and 3 the floor.

In Fig. 1, we have illustra-ted what may be called the standard prior art dining'car arrangement, such, for example, as shown in the VHCar Builders Cyclopedia of 1937. 'In this standard arrangement, there are provided siX tables Aradjacent each side wall of the car, these tables being of substantially rectangular shape, having their greatest dimension disposed transversely of the car. These tables are spaced longitudinally of the car at such a distance -apart'as to receive between them four movablechairs B. Thus', each table accommodates Vfour persons. 1 vdesignates the usual kitchen at the end ofthe car.

In Fig. 1, we have yshown 'a section of the-prior art arrangement, on an enlarged scale, and have indicated on this drawing the usual dimensions heretofore commonly employed. As indicated -in Fig. 4, the width of each table, in a direction longitudinally of the car, is 32 inches, while lits length, transversely of the car, is about 401/2 inches. Assuming the total inside width of the car to be 108 inches, this leaves an aisle space between tables of 27 inches. Thetables are Vusually placed about 75 inches apart on centers, longitudinally of the-car.

In our improved arrangement, the tables are indicated at 4, and from an inspection of Figs. 2 and 5, it will be seen that these tables have a straight end portion lia which abuts 'the side wall of the car, and substantially straight side portions 4b. The aisle end 4 of each table, Aremote from the wall, is curved or arcuate in form, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

A row of such tables is arranged along each side wall of the car,` as in the prior art, so as to provide a center aisle between'the rows of tables. The tables are, of course, spaced apart longitudinally of the car, one being ypreferably disposed in front cf each window as shown; The `tables may be anchored to the side walls of the car or supported on suitable pedestals or legs, or both,

' but in any event they are rrnlyfsecured in position so as to be normally Iixed.

Between each pair of tables in each row or series we provide a pair of chairs or seats'5 arranged back to back in close relation, without any space between them. These chairs or lseats 5 are located close to the side walls of the car and adjacent the straight side edges of the tables. The chairs are shown in Fig. 3 as having upstanding backs 5a, arranged in substantial contact with each other, and as supported on suitable pedestals 5b. Regardless of how these chairs are supported, however, they are normally fixed in position so that they can not be moved by the passengers.

In addition to the chairs or seats 5, arranged back to back in the spaces between the tables as described, we provide other chairs 6 which are freely movable and which are adapted to be disposed adjacent the rounded or arcuate ends of the tables, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. Preferably a pair of such chairs is provided for each table,V

the chairs being located one at each side of the center line of the table and disposed normal to.

the curved edge thereof and at an angle to such center line and to the aisle, so that they do not project unduly into or obstruct the aisle.

While normally only two chairs 6 are employed for each table, one located on each side of the center line, as described, our improved arrangement provides space in which a third chair 6a may be employed in special cases if desired, and as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. Such a third chair is particularly convenient for the purpose of accommodating a family party, or a child, and in the latter case the special chairs 6a may be somewhat smaller than the standard chairs 6.

Referring again particularly to Fig. 5, we have shown the actual dimensions which may be employed when our improved seat and table arrangement is used in dining cars of the standard inside width of 108 inches. We place our tables '7 5 inches on centers longitudinally of the car, the same as in the. prior art arrangement shown in Fig. 4. Our improved tables, however, have their greatest dimension disposed longitudinally of the car, this dimension, as shown in Fig. 5, being 44 inches. As above stated, the sides of our improved tables adjacent the seats 5 are straight, for a distance substantially equal to the 'width of such seats. From this point, however, the aisle ends of the tables are curved or arcuate. In Figs. 2 and 5, we have shown the aisle ends as semicircular, the aros being struck on a 22 inch radius about a center c, located, for example, at a point 17 inches from the side wall. These dimensions f result in tables having a maximum dimension, transversely of the car, of 39 inches, which provides an aisle of 30 inches between the rows of tables, as against an aisle only 27 inches wide, as

commonly employed heretofore, and as illustrated in the standard arrangement shown in Fig. 4. Hence our arrangement results in a wider aisle.

In the standard Varrangementof the prior art, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the dimensions indicated result in each table having an area of 1,296 square inches, or 324 square inches of table surface per person.

In our improved arrangement, each table, as shown in Fig. 5, has an area of approximately 1,508 square inches, or 377 square inches of table surface per person.

It will be noted, therefore, that the increased width of our improved tables, longitudinally of the car, more than compensates for their slightly smaller dimension transversely of the car, and for the loss of area due tothe curved or arcuate aisle ends. Thus by our improved arrangement, we are able to accommodate the same number of persons within a given oor space, while providing a wider aisle and, at the same time, a greater table area per person. This improved result is largely due to thefact that the seats 5 are placed back to back with no space between them, thus .permitting the edges of adjacent tables to be somewhat closer together.

Due, however, to the curved or arcuate form of the aisle ends of the tables, and to the angular position of the movable chairs 6, two important advantages are achieved, namely, (1) persons may freely pass to and from the fixed or side wall seats 5 without disturbing persons occupying the chair 6; and (2) waiters may .enter between the backs of chairs 6 at adjacent tables in order to serve persons occupying the side wall seats, without the necessity of reaching over or across persons occupying the aisle seats, as was necessary in the prior art arrangement. Even with the third chair 6a placed as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5, thus enabling a table to accommodate live persons, the table area per person is approximately 301l square inches, which is only slightly less than the area per person for the prior art tables accommodating four persons.

In Figs. 2 and 5, we have shown the aisle ends of the tables as being cut on arcs from a center c with a 22 inch radius, the chairs 6 being preferably positioned in line with this radius, or, in other words, normal to the curved edge of the table.

In Fig. 6, we have shown tables 4' of slightly modied form, in which the curved edge comprises two separate arcs struck on 16 inch radii from separate centers c', located 12 inches apart, and 22 inches from the side wall. This leaves the center of the aisle end somewhat flattened as shown, and reduces the dimension of the table transversely of the car to 33 inches, thus providing even wider aisle space, the figures above mentioned giving an aisle 32 inches wide. Also, these figures give a table area of 1,562 square inches, or 390 square inches of table surface per person, when four people occupy the table. When the extra chair 6a is employed, in order to accommodate five people at the table, the table area per person is 312 square inches.

In Figure 7, we have the tables 4" of a second modified form, in which the inner corners of the tables instead of being rounded as in the forms shown in Figure 5 or 6 are straight sided. With the arrangement shown and the dimensions given, this form gives a table area somewhat less than the form of Figure 6, namely 1,512 square inches or 378 square inches per person but still slightly greater than the form shown in Figure 5. With this arrangement, the corners where the straight sides merge into each other may be, as shown, slightly rounded to avoid sharp corners.

Thus, whether we employ the form of table shown in Figures 1 and 5, having a semi-circular end, or the form shown in Figure 6 in which the aisle end is slightly attened, 'or the form shown in Figure 7 in which the corners are straightsided, it may be said that the corners of the tables at the aisle end are cut away, and it will be seen that the chairs 6 are placed normal to such cut away portions, and at an angle both to the side wall and to the aisle, resulting in the advantages above mentioned. The extra chair 6e, when used, is placed with its back to the aisle, facing the side wall, but even when an occasional chair is thus placed, the aisle space is not obstructed to such an extent as to seriously interfere with persons passing therethrough.

The present application is a continuation in part of our prior co-pending application Serial No. 135,641, filed April 8, 1937.

What we claim is:

1. A standard width railway dining car having rows of similar tables disposed with one end against the side walls thereof, with an aisle of at least the usual width between them, each table being capable of accommodating at least four persons, the greatest dimension of said tables being in a direction extendinglongitudinally of the car, the side portions of said tables adjacent the end in Contact with the car walls being straight and normal to said walls, single seats arranged back to back in the spaces between the straight sides of the tables, the corners of said tables at the opposite or aisle end being cut away, and chairs placed substantially normal to said cut away corners and spaced a substantial distance from said seats.

2. A standard width railway dining car comprising rows of similar tables disposed along the sides thereof with an aisle of at least substantially the usual width arranged between them, the greatest dimension of the tables longitudinally of the car being at least substantially as v portions being of arcuate form, xed single seats arranged back to back with no space between them in the spaces between the straight side portions of the tables adjacent the side walls, and other seats movably disposed adjacent the arcuate portions of the tables.

and chair accommodations along a side wall and limited as to adjoining longitudinally extending.

aisle space, tables having square ends placed against the wall at such a distance apart as to normally accommodate two persons in chairs back to back without intervening space between them, and the said tables having aisle ends the corners of which are cut away suiciently to permit ad'- ditional persons to be seated on chairs placed normal to the cut-away corners and at such an angle to the side wall as to space adjacent aisle chairs of adjoining tables suiciently apart to permit entrance and exit of persons to the wall side chairs Without disturbance of the said aisle chairs, and to afford space for the standing and service of waiters between the chairs at the wall side and chairs at the aisle, the said tables being of such increased width at their square ends as to at least offset the loss in area due to said cutaway corners.

4. A dining compartment according to claim 3, in which the Width of the table and the extent of the cutting-away of the aisle corners is such as to leave between chairs placed normal to the corners as aforesaid, room for the placement of a chair accommodating a fth person dining at the same table and facing the wall of the compartment.

PAUL P. CRET. JOHN W. PATTON. 

